Free Wi-Fi on UK phones

[JulieBarlow]

We've seen that there is now free wi-fi in resorts and in Magic Kingdom and Epcot. When reading the info on the park wi-fi it always seems to say it supports specific service providers (t-mobile, verizon, etc). Does anyone know if UK phones work on the free resort and/or park wi-fi? I've got an HTC Desire on Virgin network and wasn't going to take it as I doubt I would use it much and don't want to risk losing it but if there is free wi-fi available that will work on my phone then I would use it for the Disney apps that I have, obviously turning off all roaming so I don't get any charges. Has anyone used a UK phone with the free wi-fi?

 

[2Tiggies]

It does.

Some of our DISers are out there at the moment and have been using the wifi.

Wifi doesn't work through a network so as long as your phone is wifi capbable, you will be able to connect and use it

 

[JulieBarlow]

Thankyou, that's what I thought but it confused me when it started saying it supported specific networks, wondered if they were doing like the openzone where you have to be on a specific network to connect to it. That's great news then, I will take my phone and turn off everything that could possibly cost me money and just use it for wi-fi! So much for promising the kids I wouldn't use computers or phones this holiday!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Thankyou, that's what I thought but it confused me when it started saying it supported specific networks, wondered if they were doing like the openzone where you have to be on a specific network to connect to it. That's great news then, I will take my phone and turn off everything that could possibly cost me money and just use it for wi-fi! So much for promising the kids I wouldn't use computers or phones this holiday!!!

I'm not planning to use mine a lot, but it will be nice to keep in touch with friends and family without adding money to my account to send texts. I will just turn off the network and roaming data so the handset works only through wifi. There is nothing that can't wait for a place to connect. We've done enough trips without it not to let it be an issue, but it is a nice extra to have for those times you want to check something. First time I really felt hard done by as an international guest was at a MNSSHP last year when I was trying to remember where to find specific characters from a thread that was running on the DIS. A guest behind me spotted my DIS tag on my bag and we started chatting and she just looked it up for me. I thought it rude that they got to check stuff like that and we needed to remortgage a property to pay for it

 

[diddldonna]

My understanding is that you turn off the 3g and data roaming (for an iphone) before you board the plane and keep that off until you land and just keep wifi on, hope i am right.

 

[laura_<3]

My understanding is that you turn off the 3g and data roaming (for an iphone) before you board the plane and keep that off until you land and just keep wifi on, hope i am right.

That's what I was thinking too.

 

[thestevied]

That's what I was thinking too.

I'd also turn off email and notifications just to be extra safe... Just not worth risking the giant bill!

 

[bazzanoid]

It's an Android-based phone, so either turn off data roaming AND packet data (disables the data network, you'll still be connected to the phone network) or pull the SIM card out - Android phones will work as mini computers without the SIM in, so you know without it you definitely won't be connecting up to the phone network running up charges!! Turn Wifi on, connect up to the appropriate hotspot / wifi net and away you go.

 

[2Tiggies]

It's an Android-based phone, so either turn off data roaming AND packet data (disables the data network, you'll still be connected to the phone network) or pull the SIM card out - Android phones will work as mini computers without the SIM in, so you know without it you definitely won't be connecting up to the phone network running up charges!! Turn Wifi on, connect up to the appropriate hotspot / wifi net and away you go.

This is the second time in 2 days you have given me very useful information about a phone! You explained something regarding Blackberry to me the other day that I didn't know and having searched everywhere to find out how to turn off the network on my DD's new android (never had to deal with one of these before) and you've just answered the question nobody else could. In future I'm just going to PM you for rapid results

 

[bazzanoid]

This is the second time in 2 days you have given me very useful information about a phone! You explained something regarding Blackberry to me the other day that I didn't know and having searched everywhere to find out how to turn off the network on my DD's new android (never had to deal with one of these before) and you've just answered the question nobody else could. In future I'm just going to PM you for rapid results

What can I say? I'm a techy geek!!

Been in IT for years until very recently, I now fit carpets for a living. Not sure how I fell into it, but I enjoy it (great for weight loss!) and the money is good

Still keep up to date with the tech tho

 

[2Tiggies]

What can I say? I'm a techy geek!!

Been in IT for years until very recently, I now fit carpets for a living. Not sure how I fell into it, but I enjoy it (great for weight loss!) and the money is good

Still keep up to date with the tech tho

Well it's certainly been a huge benefit to me! I can't tell you how many hours I have spent searching online to find how to disable my 10 year old's network in case she makes accidental calls. She's not had the phone that long and I still get the occasional missed call and hear her on the other end in a flap "Oh no I phoned someone and I don't know how to end the call .... " Feel free in the UK my child, but don't ya dare in the US

 

[bazzanoid]

Feel free in the UK my child, but don't ya dare in the US

Hahahaha.... pull the SIM card the second you land in the US. Seriously.

What phone model is it?

 

[2Tiggies]

Hahahaha.... pull the SIM card the second you land in the US. Seriously.

What phone model is it?

It's a very very basic model - Galaxy Mini

I know my way around BB as I've had various models of the years but was clueless with Android. I may just pull it out on the plane. That's usually when I make sure all my data and network are off (BB - at least the one I have now - does not have a dedicated flight mode option, but you can deselect the various radios individually)

 

[bazzanoid]

A SIM card is VERY easy to lose, so in that case you might prefer this way, especially as the Mini's SIM card is under the battery as I remember....:

Activate Flight Mode (just before you leave the UK). You can do this by activating the main screen (i.e. not screen off or locked), hold down the power button and you'll get a menu pop up. IIRC the third option is Flight Mode.

Then pull down the notification bar from the top of the screen (by literally pulling it down) and tap the Wi-Fi button). Grab the bottom of the bar and push it back up. Job done.

When you get back to the UK, reverse the procedure

 

[2Tiggies]

A SIM card is VERY easy to lose, so in that case you might prefer this way, especially as the Mini's SIM card is under the battery as I remember....:

Activate Flight Mode (just before you leave the UK). You can do this by activating the main screen (i.e. not screen off or locked), hold down the power button and you'll get a menu pop up. IIRC the third option is Flight Mode.

Then pull down the notification bar from the top of the screen (by literally pulling it down) and tap the Wi-Fi button). Grab the bottom of the bar and push it back up. Job done.

When you get back to the UK, reverse the procedure

You're a gem!! Thank you sooooooo much!!

 

[bazzanoid]

No worries!

 

[DisMadWife]

We returned yesterday and DH and myself used the wifi in the parks and at OKW successfully. We do not have data roaming so were sure we could only download on wifi. DH has an andriod and I have a Blackberry and we had no issues with either it was very useful to have. Hope this helps. Oh and it is very slow at times.

 

[dlhvac]

get skype or magic jack for your phone and you can make and receive calls on your phone connected to wifi

 

[consumermonkey]

Read this thread last night and tried the removing SIM trick (Sony Neo). Worked a treat.

Picked up one of those Playbook things on offer in Currys this morning. That will do the job for surfing in room, then use the phone for TP's Lines and whatever else I choose while in the parks. With MK and Epcot having the wifi, the other two should be done by January for my trip.

Brilliant, No Sim, No Charges.

 

[1andrea]

Hello, can anyone offer me some advic please? I have an iPhone 4 and I'm absolutely rubbish with technology.

I want to use my phone to text in Florida (I know they will cost me close to 40 pence per text)

I would live to be able to connect to the internet in the parks and OKW for free, if I turn off data roaming is this all I need to do to view the Internet for free? Can I use my apps like Facebook too?

How do I connect, is a password needed?

Thanks : 0 )